home touring participatory about proteus contact site map

Proteus presents a production exploring the current obsessions with beauty, celebrity and body image, fusing together burlesque, new circus, multi-media and physical theatre into a total theatre experience. 

The critically acclaimed ‘ The Elephant Man' is back by popular demand and is able to tour nationally & internationally to mid scale venues for long runs.

CLICK HERE FOR REVIEWS FROM THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL 2008

‘Is this our real national theatre?'
The Guardian on Proteus' Summer 2007 Participatory Project, Modern Major General

 

The Elephant Man
Available for international touring, mid scale runs and London venues

A remarkable journey by a remarkable man.......

Devised & Written by Mary Swan & Saul Jaffé
Performed by Saul Jaffé
Directed By Mary Swan
Designed By Sam Pine
Music By Paul Wild

The Elephant Man explores the current obsessions with beauty, cele br ity and body image. With more than 25 years of producing professional theatre, Basingstoke-based Proteus fuses together burlesque, new circus, multimedia and physical theatre into an innovative theatre experience.

The Elephant Man is the moving, poetic and ultimately uplifting story of the life of John Merrick. Proteus has created a version for the 21 st Century – a highly physical, one-man tour-de-force, which explores the journey of this remarkable man, from an object of curiosity and social revulsion to cele br ity. His life and tragic destiny is as relevant today in our image obsessed culture as it ever was.

They always say that the most remarkable stories are the true ones, and the story of Joseph Carey Merrick, The Elephant Man, is certainly that. Merrick 's story continues to fascinate long after his death and we are drawn to him because he makes us re-evaluate our own attitudes. Our current obsession with celebrity and ‘reality' stars makes it quite possible that Joseph Merrick would be gracing the pages of Hello magazine if he lived among us today.

Merrick's condition, now classified as “Proteus Syndrome”, is a little understood, extremely rare and variable condition; the cause of which is still unknown. The company worked alongside the Proteus Syndrome Foundation UK during the development of this project, which was formed by Tracey Whitewood-Neil OBE, a former social worker whose son, Jordan, suffers from the condition and was the recent subject of a Channel 4 documentary.

‘A technical and artistic masterpiece'
The Stage on Proteus' Spring 2007 tour The Elephant Man

‘If you missed this one-off performance, I am sorry to say you really missed out.'
St Neots Today on Proteus' Spring 2007 tour, The Elephant Man

CLICK HERE FOR REVIEWS FROM THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL 2008

Previous 2008 TOUR SCHEDULE

DATE
TIME
VENUE
BOX OFFICE
Saturday 5th April 2008
6pm & 8pm

Lindisfarne Annexe, Alnwick

As part of Further Upstix - The Pride of Place theatre festival

01665 510785 www.prideofplace.org.uk

Thursday 24th April 2008
7:30pm
The Haymarket, Basingstoke
Friday 25th April 2008
7:30pm
The Haymarket, Basingstoke
Saturday 26th April 2008
7:30pm
Sheringham Little Theatre, Sheringham
Tuesday 29th April 2008
8pm
Greenwich Theatre, London

Wednesday 30th April 2008

8pm
Greenwich Theatre, London

Wednesday 7th May 2008

7:45pm
The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre, Taunton

01823 283244
www.thebrewhouse.net

Friday 9th May 2008

7:30pm
Cholderton Village Hall, Salisbury
Saturday 10th May 2008
7:30pm
Nadder Hall, Tisbury
Wednesday 14th May 2008
7:45pm
The Castle, Wellingborough
Thursday 15th May 2008
7:30pm Town Hall Crypt, Middlesbrough
Saturday 12th July 2008

7.45pm

Hebden Bridge Arts Festival

Hebden Bridge Little Theatre

Wednesday 30th July - Monday 25th August 2008
4.45pm

Edinburgh Fringe Festival
C Venues
C soco

0845 260 1234
www.cthefestival.com

For bookings and to discuss your requirements please contact:

Ross Harvie, Creative Producer on 01256 354541 or e-mail info@ proteustheatre.com

CLICK HERE FOR REVIEWS FROM THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL 2008